Manchester City youngster Shay Facey had every reason to celebrate on Monday after penning a new deal with his childhood club until 2018.

The 20-year-old defender originally joined City in July 2007 but he is yet to make his senior debut for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, despite impressing with the Elite Development Squad over the past few seasons.

However, he recently returned from a productive loan spell at MLS-based sister club New York City FC, where he made 21 starts in 24 total appearances for the expansion side, while also establishing himself as a firm fan favourite with his committed performances.

Initially joining the club in March on a four-month loan deal, injuries and a family bereavement meant the former England Under-20 international endured a slow start to life in MLS, but he would prove a revelation from June onwards after moving from right-back to centre-half.

As well as getting his deal extended until the end of the 2015 campaign, the Blues loanee helped stabilise one of the league’s worst defences as a regular starter, as he finished the regular season with the second most interceptions and the second most clearances per game on the NYCFC roster.

The team ultimately fell 12 points short of the Eastern Conference’s sixth and final playoff spot, but then head coach Jason Kreis had no issues with the promising stopper’s contributions, as he stressed prior to his sacking earlier this month that he wanted him back for 2016.

Discussing the futures of both Facey and fellow City loanee Angelino, who spent the second half of the season at Yankee Stadium, Kreis told EmpireofSoccer.com: “I would like them to stay. There’s no doubt that from our point of view, from New York City’s point of view, we would like them to stay, no doubt.

“I think they’re both fantastic people and they’re obviously both very, very talented players with a very high level of potential. At the end of the day, when I took this job, one of my goals is to be a part of the development of some special players.”

Freddie Shires

Freddie is a freelance sports writer, having recently completed an MA in Sports Journalism at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham. With an especially keen interest in all things American sports-related, he has written extensively about the NFL, MLS and the U.S. national team for various sites.